Sudan: paramilitary group declare the formation of rival government

Sudan’s paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have declared the formation of a rival government to mark the two-year anniversary of the Civil War.

The RSF, led by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, or Hemedti, declared the “Government of Peace and Unity” in all areas under its control in a direct challenge to the internationally-recognised administration led by General Adbel Fattah al-Burhan.

“On this anniversary, we proudly declare the establishment of the Government of Peace and Unity, a broad coalition that reflects the true face of Sudan,” Hemedti said on Telegram.

The consolidation of Darfur by the rebel group and the declaration of a rival government could lead to the de facto separation of the country, leaving its population at grave risk of a worsening humanitarian situation.

Described by the United Nations as the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis”, Sudan’s Civil War has rendered 13 million people displaced and over 150,000 people dead.

Maghrebi recently reported on the RSF attack on famine-hit refugee camps in north Darfur, killing over 100 people including 20 children and 9 aid workers, and causing thousands to flee.

With the simultaneous continuation of unprecedented violence in Sudan, the humanitarian crisis only deepens, exacerbated by Trump’s USAID cuts which have affected millions of people in Sudan. Maghrebi has also reported on the effect of USAID cuts on emergency food kitchens in Sudan where the cuts forced the closure of almost 80 percent of emergency food kitchens.

With the USA relinquishing its soft power and morality, the United Kingdom has hosted a donor conference in London to encourage international partners to fill the void left by the US. Talks between twenty foreign ministers, including the UK Foreign Minister David Lammy, led to multiple pledges of increased support.

“The brutal war in Sudan has devastated the lives of millions and yet much of the world continues to look away, we need to act now to stop the crisis from becoming an all-out catastrophe, ensuring aid gets to those who need it most,” Lammy said.

Britain has pledged to double its humanitarian aid to Sudan, with another £120 million being offered for food supplies. Eight partipants of the conference will provide mor than £813 million of funding for Sudan and its neighbours this year.

One of which is the United Arab Emirates, with one western official stating the Emirates “had a role to play in ending the conflict”. Sudan’s military-led government has accused the UAE of violating the Genocide Convention by supporting the RSF.

Al Jazeera, Maghrebi, The National